iPhone Duo units are already fetching $5,000 on eBay after selling out on Apple’s website Friday morning. Listings on the auction website show dozens of sales of the in-demand foldable for as high as $4,999, which represents about $1,800 in profit for the seller.
The iPhone Duo went on sale at 5 a.m. this morning. But within minutes, ship dates slipped to late January — three months after the new handset is supposed to become available.
Why HomeView is going to be great. Photo: Cult of Mac
This week on the Cult of Mac podcast: Apple’s new HomeView hub is a getting a lot of criticism, especially for its lack of a built-in app store. But the absence of an app store is a feature, not a bug.
The situation is reminiscent of the charging port on the bottom of the Apple Magic Mouse, which is famously misunderstood. The placement of the port was designed to force users to use it wirelessly, just like ditching the headphone jack on iPhone forced users to adopt wireless Bluetooth headphones.
Apple is pulling the same trick with HomeView: The absence of apps forces users to use Siri AI as the primary interface, instead of tapping away on the screen as though it were a mini iPad. It’s genius!
Also on the Cult of Mac podcast:
HomePod mini gets a big update.
Apple TV 4K gets a remote you can actually find down the back of the couch.
Who exactly is the Apple Home Collection for?
And Apple’s next event looks set for October 28 in LA.
Listen to this week’s episode of the Cult of Mac podcast in Apple’s Podcasts app or your favorite podcast app. Or watch the video version, embedded below. (Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review if you like it!)
Demand for iPhone Duo is high on first day of preorders. Photo: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac
The new iPhone Duo is selling out fast, with deliveries already slipping into late January, three months after they were supposed to be available. The sellout is unprecedented, even for a new iPhone, which is always in high demand.
The first folding iPhone was meant to be ready for delivery on Friday, October 23. But preorders backed up by months within 15 minutes of the new handset going on sale this morning.
Currently, the checkout at Apple’s online store shows the iPhone Duo, which starts at $1,999, won’t be delivered until January 25 at the earliest. Customers hoping to pick up a handset before Christmas might still be able to get one, however.
Preorder now and get your iPhone Duo on October 23. Photo: Apple
You can now preorder the iPhone Duo from Apple. The company’s first foldable iPhone will reach customers and Apple Stores in a week, on Friday, October 23.
In the initial launch wave, the iPhone Duo will be available in more than 70 countries and regions. Another 28 countries will get the foldable on October 30.
Apple's first foldable will greet you like never before. Photo: Apple
If you purchase the iPhone Duo from the Apple Store, Apple will have a little surprise for you. Apparently, Apple retail stores can customize the foldable’s boot screen with the buyer’s name.
So instead of just a “Hello,” users will see a “Hello, [insert name]” when they turn on the device for the first time.
A $19 replacement could give the iPhone Duo’s display a fresh start. Photo: Rajesh Pandey/Cult of Mac
The iPhone Duo features a replaceable display cover that will be relatively inexpensive to replace under AppleCare coverage. Unlike regular smartphones, foldable displays feature a protective covering on top of the display.
Over time, this layer can start showing scratches or a visible crease. A replaceable cover layer solves that problem to a certain extent.
iPhone Duo is ready to be useful all the time, thanks to StandBy. Screenshot: Apple/Cult of Mac
The iPhone Duo will ship with several unannounced StandBy faces that Apple didn’t reveal during the foldable’s unveiling or in its press materials. However, a leaker is spoiling the surprises by revealing at least five more StandBy faces for the Duo.
The foldable will also feature a new face editor similar to the Apple Watch face editor.
iOS 27 feels remarkably solid and adds some standout features. Image: Apple/Cult of Mac
This week on the Cult of Mac podcast: The iPhone 18 Pro is here, and the iPhone Duo is on the way, but Apple’s far from finished releasing new hardware this year.
There’s plenty of new stuff coming down the pike, and we’re especially excited about a pair of long-rumored additions to the Apple lineup.
There are several solid reasons to hang onto your iPhone 17 Pro rather than upgrading to iPhone 18 Pro. It’s kinda depressing, TBH.
And finally, the prospect of a user-repairable iPhone Duo seems incredibly slim.
Listen to this week’s episode of the Cult of Mac podcast in the Podcasts app or your favorite podcast app. (Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review if you like it!) Or watch the video version, embedded below.
Plenty of reasons to skip buying the iPhone 18 Pro this year. Photo: Apple/Rajesh Pandey/Cult of Mac
Of two minds about upgrading to the iPhone 18 Pro from your current iPhone? While the newest iPhone packs some compelling upgrades, it might not be worth the higher price tag. Plus, wanting an upgrade and needing one are two different things.
With the 20th-anniversary iPhone rumored for next year, you might want to consider holding off on buying the iPhone 18 Pro this year. Here are some reasons you should not upgrade.
The iPhone Duo Shift Left Edge setting adds an extra black border along the outer display’s edge. Photo: Apple
Apple’s new iPhone Duo reportedly comes with a new Shift Left Edge setting that lets users add a fake bezel to its outer display. The toggle is built for one job: helping the first folding iPhone play nicer with cases.
The setting lives inside iPhone Duo’s display options. Turn it on, and content will shift away from the left edge of the screen. That way, a case that extends over the display won’t cover anything important.
The iPhone Duo doesn't come with Face ID but Apple Intelligence could change that for future versions. Photo: Apple
iPhone Duo doesn’t use Face ID, but adding facial recognition to the foldable is reportedly on Apple’s roadmap. And so is the third camera that so many people want!
A new report says facial recognition and a telephoto camera are Apple’s top priorities for future versions of its new folding phone. Apple Intelligence could be the key to both.
New CEO John Ternus hit it out of Apple Park when he unveiled the iPhone Duo. Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac
This week on the Cult of Mac podcast: Apple’s Surprise and Shine event is in the books! The iPhone Duo is real, and it definitely folds. New Apple CEO John Ternus didn’t, though. He acquitted himself admirably as he briefly uncapped Apple’s magic product pipeline.
We discuss how things went down and our reactions to iPhone Duo, iPhone 18 Pro, Apple Watch Series 12, Apple Watch Ultra 4 and AirPods 5.
Also on the Cult of Mac podcast:
How does iPhone 18 Pro stack up against iPhone 17 Pro? The new variable-aperture camera sounds impressive, but seriously … how much better do your iPhone pix need to be? And how much are you willing to spend for slightly better snapshots?
The new Apple Watch models come with a powerful new chip that enables a pair of controversial features: Live Rewind and Siri Recap. Both involve the Apple Watch Series 12 or Ultra 4 quietly listening in the background at all times. And that stirs real privacy concerns.
Another pair of Apple Watch 12 and Ultra 4 features — your readiness score and Health Age — raise a different kind of question. Namely, just how scientific and useful are they?
We wrap up the show with a show of hands: Who’s getting what new Apple products? The subject proves dicier than usual.
Listen to this week’s episode of the Cult of Mac podcast in the Podcasts app or your favorite podcast app. (Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review if you like it!) Or watch the video version, embedded below.
Time to place your iPhone 18 Pro preorder. Photo: Apple/Rajesh Pandey/Cult of Mac
Apple began accepting preorders for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max this morning. Both phones arrive in stores on Friday, September 18, when the first preorder deliveries also reach customers.
The Apple Watch Series 12, Apple Watch Ultra 4 and new AirPods 5 were already available for preorder, with all three launching the same day. However, if you want the folding iPhone Duo, you’ll need to wait until October to place your preorder.
An iPhone Edge Light might look like this concept. Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac
Apple’s Edge Light feature may soon make the jump from Mac to iPhone. Code in the iOS 27 release candidate suggests the glowing screen-border effect could be coming to the iPhone Duo. It could eventually make its way to other iPhone models, too.
The discovery comes from an analysis of Apple’s latest software beta. The code points to the Mac feature being adapted for iPhone, creating a soft ring of light around the edge of the display. The catch is that it’s still an early build, and some key settings aren’t finished yet.
iPhone Duo managed to get everyone talking. Is it the future... or destined to fail? Photo: Apple, Gemini
The internet is full of ridiculous hot takes about almost everything, and the introduction of the iPhone Duo is no exception. From “copying Samsung” to “resurrecting 10-year-old tech in a modern smarphone,” the best, worst and most hilarious hot takes show just how important the new foldable is likely to be.
iPhone Duo vs iPhone 18 Pro: Apple’s foldable trades some flagship camera and security features for its folding design. Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac
So you’re eyeing the iPhone Duo. Before you preorder, know this: The iPhone Duo versus iPhone 18 Pro fight is closer than you might think, but the folding phone loses by more than a few rounds.
Apple’s latest flagships launched together during Wednesday’s Surprise and Shine event. But to achieve its cutting-edge design, the Duo trades some camera and other features that the two iPhone 18 Pro models keep. Here’s what you’d give up if you buy the first folding iPhone.
Thanks to its clever hinge and nano-texture glass, the iPhone Duo appears crease-free (at least for now). Photo: Apple
Judging by social media, the iPhone Duo looks like it will be a big hit, not least because the first folding iPhone appears to have no visible screen crease when opened to full size.
That’s a big drawback for other foldable devices. Here are some other revealing tidbits about the iPhone Duo.
Apple's first foldable is the iPhone Duo, not the Ultra or Fold. Screenshot: Apple
The just announced iPhone Duo is an iPad that fits in your pocket. The 7.6-inch screen is 50% larger than the iPhone 18 Pro Max, but folds up to be easily pocketable.
iPad users are well accustomed to side-by-side multitasking, and the Duo offers that too. And the dual-display design enables some camera tricks no other iPhone can pull off.
“With the largest display ever on iPhone that still fits easily in your pocket, combined with the power of A20 Pro, iPhone Duo helps you stay more immersed and productive wherever you go, whether you’re enjoying content, multitasking across apps, or gaming,” said John Ternus, Apple’s new CEO.
John Ternus talks up the iPhone during his first event as Apple CEO. Photo: Apple
Apple kicked off its Surprise and Shine event Wednesday with a cinematic passing of the torch as former CEO Tim Cook introduced his successor, John Ternus.
Ternus then praised the company’s crown jewel — the iPhone, which he called an “intelligent personal hub” superpowered by artificial intelligence — before unveiling a slew of new products, including the first folding iPhone, known as the iPhone Duo.
Other new and upgraded products included the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, Apple Watch Series 12, Apple Watch Ultra 4 and AirPods 5. Plus, various Apple execs also showcased new software features coming soon in iOS 27 and the company’s other software platforms.
“iPhone sits at the center of an amazing ecosystem of intelligent features and experiences that work seamlessly across the products you use every day,” Ternus said, before name-checking the new AI-powered Siri and advanced features in the new Apple Watch and AirPods.
“Simply put, iPhone brings powerful AI capabilities together with your personal context on the device you have with you all the time,” Ternus continued. “So today, we’re going to take these experiences even further with the next generation of iPhone.”
iPhone Duo is it then? AI image: ChatGPT/Sonny Dickson/Cult of Mac
Apple will call its first foldable iPhone the iPhone Duo, with a starting price of $2,000, according to a last-minute report. The starting price is lower than many previous predictions. But those who opt for configurations wth additional storage could pay nearly $3,000.
We know almost everything about the folding iPhone, and it's time to start getting excited! AI image: ChatGPT/Cult of Mac
After years of rumors, Apple finally appears ready to launch the first folding iPhone. It’ll be the most significant shakeup to the basic design of an iOS device since… well, ever.
There’s no official confirmation of a foldable iPhone, of course. But the rumors are unusually detailed, covering everything from the screen size and hinge design to the processor, cameras and even the phone’s possible name.
John Ternus is ready to say "Hello" at Apple's Surprise and Shine event. Image: Apple/Cult of Mac
Apple’s September product launch event kicks off on Wednesday, and there is so much to look forward to. It’ll be a milestone for the company in multiple ways.
First off, the “Surprise and Shine” event be the first with John Ternus welcoming everyone, not Tim Cook. He became Apple CEO just days ago, and will surely be acting as ringmaster for all the announcments.
That will keep him busy, with plenty of new products on the agenda. The first folding iPhone is expected to be the star of the show, joined by the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4, with potentially even more products in store.
Here’s everything expected to take the stage at the Steve Jobs Theater in Apple Park on September 9.
The first folding iPhone apparently won't skip the popular MagSafe feature. Image: Majin Bu
The first folding iPhone will support MagSafe, according to a new report that may finally settle one of the last open questions about the rumored device.
Apple reportedly found some space for MagSafe’s magnetic array despite the thin design of the foldable, likely called the iPhone Ultra. New details also surfaced about pricing, launch timing and where Apple’s folding phone is expected to excel.
An Apple Pencil for the folding iPhone supposedly went through testing . AI image: ChatGPT/Sonny Dickson/Cult of Mac
The folding iPhone expected in September will open to become what is essentially a small iPad. But that doesn’t mean that it will support Apple Pencil, the stylus designed for Apple tablets.
Apple tested a version of the stylus for its upcoming foldable phone, but nixed the idea for multiple reasons, according to an unconfirmed report published Sunday. The most notable reason for cancellation: danger that the stylus might damage the iPhone’s folding screen.